Cheating

Section 415 of Indian Penal Code:

Whoever, by deceiving any person, fraudulently or dishonestly induces the person
so deceived to deliver any property to any person, or to consent that any person
shall retain any property, or intentionally induces the person so deceived to do
or omit to do anything which he would not do or omit if he were not so deceived,
and which act or omission causes or is likely to cause damage or harm to that person
in body, mind, reputation or property, is said to "cheat". Illustration: A, by falsely
pretending to be a Government Officer, intentionally deceives B, and thus dishonestly
induces to let him pay credit for goods for which he does not mean to pay. A Cheats.

Section 417 of Indian Penal Code

Punishment for Cheating According to Section 417 of IPC: Whoever cheats shall be
punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to
one year, or with fine or with both.

Note: the above offence is Non-Cognizable and Bailable and triable by any Magistrate,
and therefore application U/s 156 (3) or Private Complaint U/s 200 may be preferred.

Section 420 of Indian Penal Code

Cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property.—Whoever cheats and thereby
dishonestly induces the person de¬ceived to deliver any property to any person,
or to make, alter or destroy the whole or any part of a valuable security, or anything
which is signed or sealed, and which is capable of being converted into a valuable
security, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which
may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.

The word property may simply be defined as all things which can be measured in value
in money terms, including the money itself, and the said thing capable of being
possessed by a person, to the exclusive use/ enjoyment as the owner of that thing
from rest of the world.

Section 24 defines what is “acting dishonestly”. When the doing of any act or not
doing any act causes a wrongful gain of property to one person or a wrongful loss
of property to a person, the said act is done dishonestly. Wrongful means unlawfully.
See section 471.

Section 23 defines what is Wrongful loss and Wrongful gain. The Wrongful means affecting
a person of his legal right. For Wrongful loss or gain, any property, movable or
immovable must be lost to the owner, or the owner must be, without any reason, is
deprived of its beneficial use.

Section 25: "Fraudulently" A person is said to do a thing fraudulently if he does
that thing with intent to defraud but not otherwise.

Note: The offence is cognizable and Non-Bailable; and triable by Magistrate of the
First Class; and therefore FIR or Application u/s 156(3) should be registered by
the Police or If Police refuses to take cognizance than Private Complaint u/s 200
may be preferred.